Lightning strike hospitalizes three men

HICKSVILLE, N.Y., July 28 (UPI) -- Lightning struck a tree at a soccer match in New York, leading to three men being hospitalized with severe burns, authorities said.

The soccer league match was taking place Sunday at Cantiague Park in Hicksville, N.Y., when lightning hit a tree being used as shelter by three men trying to avoid rain, Newsday reported.

The three victims were taken to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, N.Y., the report said.

A fourth man was burned less seriously and another received muscle strains, soccer player Henry Ramos told the newspaper.

Newsday said the lightning struck as thunderstorms swept through Long Island.

Team coach Alex Canales said to Newsday that he was bewildered by the lightning strike because rain wasn't heavy and no one mentioned calling off the game.